I am a digital product design leader focused on the principles of simplicity, empathy, and inclusion. I build creative, diverse, engaged teams.
My Mission
My mission is to empower my team to do the best design work of their careers and be happy while doing it.
Specialties
Design Leadership
Design Ops
Mentorship
Career Development
Human Centered Design
Creative Direction
Business Development
Product Management
Experience
Partner and VP, Design at WillowTree, Sept 2019 to present
Director of Product Design at WillowTree, Dec 2016 to Sept 2019
Senior UX Designer at WillowTree, Apr 2016 to Dec 2016
Designer at Atomic Object, Nov 2013 to Apr 2016
UX Designer at Elevator Up, Feb 2012 to Nov 2013
Intern and Designer, Canright Communications, Aug 2010 to Feb 2012
Community
Design Leadership Forum Member, 2020 to Present
Founding Host, Creative Mornings Grand Rapids, 2014 to 2016
Director of Programming, AIGA West Michigan, 2013 to 2014
Speaking & Events
NSCU College of Design, Oct 2018
Guest Lecture & Workshop
TomTom Founders Festival, April 2018
A Universal Language: Inclusive Design
Ladies the UX Durham, Oct 2017
Panel Discussion: Building a User-Centric Organization by Taking Initiative
Hopscotch Design Festival 2017, Sept 2017
Roundtable: How to Develop and Validate Creative Concepts with Margo Bulka
NCSU College of Design, Sept 2017
Guest Lecture and Workshop in Animation, Interface and Gesture
Working with Me
“I’ve had a handful of managers and creative directors in my career so far, and Julia is by far my favorite. She’s what a good leader looks like.”
— Anonymous Team Survey Feedback
“She always makes people feel comfortable, even when giving constructive criticism. She has a way of wording things to people, especially in design critiques, where people always feel like she cares about them and the product they're designing.”
— Anonymous Team Survey Feedback
Ask Me About
When I’m not working, I’m probably doing/thinking about something related to:
Interior design
Lord of the Rings
Travel
Rosé and IPAs